Pune: A shocking case of fraud has come to light, where a senior citizen was duped of ₹24.48 lakh through online transactions by misusing his bank account details. The Hadapsar police have arrested two suspects in connection with the case.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Iftikhar Rahimkhan Pathan (31, resident of Gautam Nagar, Govandi, Mumbai) and Mohammad Hanif Mohammad Afsar (52, currently residing in Kale Padal, Hadapsar, Pune, originally from Patur, Akola). The complaint was filed by the son of the 64-year-old senior citizen at Hadapsar Police Station.
According to police reports, the victim lived separately from his family, and Hanif, who worked as a security guard at his residence, assisted him in his daily activities. Over time, Hanif gained the elderly man’s trust. During the investigation, police obtained transaction details from the victim’s bank, revealing that the money had been transferred to the accounts of individuals named Iftikhar Khan and Noor Jahan. It was also discovered that Hanif had absconded after committing the crime.
Further investigation showed that both suspects had switched off their mobile phones to avoid detection. Using technical surveillance, police tracked them down and found that they were in contact with each other. A police team apprehended Iftikhar Rahimkhan Pathan from Mumbai. Upon interrogation, he revealed Hanif’s location in Handewadi, Pune, leading to Hanif’s arrest.
During police interrogation, both accused confessed to the crime. It was also revealed that Iftikhar and Hanif were brothers-in-law. Hanif, while working as a security guard, informed Iftikhar that the victim lived alone, which led to their conspiracy. They developed a close relationship with the elderly man, gradually leading him into addiction. While consuming intoxicants together, they extracted his mobile phone and bank details. Using this information, they illegally transferred ₹24.48 lakh to their own and their relatives’ accounts.
The court has remanded the accused to police custody until March 31. The case is being further investigated by Crime Inspector Nilesh Jagdale under the guidance of Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajkumar Shinde, Assistant Commissioner Anuradha Udamale, and Senior Police Inspector.